Disposable hypodermic syringe



Sept. 4, 1962 J. slLvr-:R ETAL DISPOSABLE HYPODERMIC SYRINGE Filed Jan.29. 1959 INVENToRs 'Ju/z5 5M/er, 'M

3,052,239 DISPOSABLE HYPDERMIC SYRINGE Jules Silver, North Franklin, andGeorge Fuller, Hampton, Conn.; said Fuller assigner to said Silver FiledJan. 29, 1959, Ser. No. 789,917 6 Claims. (Cl. 12S-218) This inventionrelates to improvements in disposable hypodermic syringes and hasparticular reference to irnproved means for supporting a powderedpharmaceutical and a diluent or solvent therefore under such conditionsthat syringe may with facility be operated to enable the diluent todissolve the powder prior to subject injection.

A further object of this invention is the provision or" an improveddisposable hypodermic syringe presenting certain improvements over thesyringes shown in a co-pending application Serial No. 598,437, led July17, 1956, and now abandoned, and incorporating also certain otherfeatures set forth and described in an application led concurrentlyherewith, Serial No. 789,931, led January 29, 1959.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improveddisposable hypodermic syringe which includes a housing having aplurality of compartments, one of which is adapted to receive a powderedmedicament and the other of which is adapted to receive a diluent orsolvent for the medicament; the improved syringe including aplunger-like member having a novel type of valve which can, withfacility, be manipulated so as to permit or prevent ow of diluent intothe medicament.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the yfollowing detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the improved disposablehypodermic syringe, showing certain parts in section.

FIGURE 2. is a side elevation of the syringe taken at an angle of 90with respect to the syringe shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional side elevation, showing a withdrawn valvesupporting plunger of the syringe in position to enable a diluent toadmix with the powdered pharmaceutical.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing aplunger-diluent supporting barrel of the syringe; its valve cap beingremoved therefrom for the purpose of more clearly illustrating thestructure of the parts.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are cross sectional views taken substantially on thelines 5-5 and 6-6 respectively, shown in FIGURE l, and illustrating thepositions of the inner and outer barrels of the syringe when the valveis closed in order to support in the lower portion of the outer barrel apowdered pharmaceutical and in the chamber of the inner barrel a diluentor solvent therefore.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse ycross sectional view taken substantially onthe line 7-7 of FIGURE 3 showing the valve open for permitting thediluent to pass or be drawn from the inner barrel into the outer barrel.

FIGURES 8 and 9 are transverse cross sectional views taken substantiallyon their respective lines 8-8 and 9 9 shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective sectional View showing the mannerin which the parts of the inner barrel are formed to cooperate with thestructure of the valve in order that the valve can function either toclose off connection between the diluent and outer chambers or tocommunicate them.

In the drawing, where is shown only a preferred emtates Patent 0 r'icebodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate thehypodermic syringe. It includes an outer barrel B and an innerplunger-barrel C. The latter is provided with a valve structure D whichcan be operated by relative turning of the barrels B and C to functionas a Valve to prevent or permit a solvent admixing with a powdered ordry medicament.

The outer barrel B preferably comprises a barrel body 20 having a lowersloping bottom 21 and a medicament powder chamber 22 therein which isentirely opened at the top thereof. The lower end of the body 20 isprovided with means to releasably receive a hypodermic injection needle24 which is usually sealed and housed within a plastic removable casing25.

The inner barrel C functions as a plunger and the same has a body 30with a diluent receiving chamber 31 thereon. The chamber 31 narrows intoa bottom passageway 33 at the lower end of the body 30, and the latteris there provided with a reduced extension 36 through which thepassageway 33 extends and opens at the bottom of extension 36. It is onthis extension 36 that the valve D is received.

A cup shaped valve D, preferably of rubber Neoprene or some otherresilient material having a 35 durometer includes an annular hollow bodywall 4t), the bottom wall 41 of which tapers downwardly; the valve thusproviding an internal chamber 4Z. Externally, the body wall 40 isprovided with annular sealing ribs 45 which engage the inside of thechamber 22 to seal olf the chamber in piston fashion as the plunger 36is slid along the chamber 22. The tapered bottom wall 41 at the upperportion thereof is provided with four lateral passageways or ducts 47communicating with the chamber 42 and through which the diluent passesfrom the diluent chamber 31 to the medicament chamber 22, undercircumstances to be subsequently described. The valve body 40 isprovided with an internal annular flange 50 at the top thereof whichannularly overlies the chamber 42. The body 40 is further provided withintegral extensions 52, preferably four in number, below the ange 50which acts as stops to insure the closed position of the valve undercircumstances to be subsequently described.

The lower extension 36 of the plunger-barrel C is preferably providedwith four lugs or bosses 55 thereon which, when in alignment with theextensions 52 of the valve, and engaging the same at the ends thereof,as shown in FIGURE 10, will stretch the valve nose tight over the endopening of passageway 33 and thus prevent the fluid in the barrel C frompassing into the chamber 22 of the outer barrel. In order to insure thatthe extensions 52 and 55 may assume this relation, at least one of theextensions 55 is provided with a top stop lug 60a, as shown in FIGURE10, against which the extensions 52 will hit when the valve is closed.

The chamber of barrel 20 is provided with a key or spline 60 and theribs 45 of the valve D are provided with key-ways 61 to prevent rotationof the valve D in barrel 20.

Upon turning the barrel 30 so that the extensions 52 and 55 are not inalignment as shown in FIGURE 10, and then withdrawing the plunger C, thepassageway 33 through the extension 36 of the barrel 30 will be openedto the ports 47 which will enable the diluent to pass from the diluentchamber 31 into the medicament chamber 22.

A feature of this application, which is set forth ina concurrently iiledapplication Serial No. 789,931, filed January 29, 1959 includes theprovision of a flange upon the barrel body 30 having an extension 81depending therefrom which is adapted to engage one of two finger grips82 laterally flanged upon the barrel 20, to limit the depressed movementof the barrel 30 into the passageway 22 of the barrel 20 to the positionshown in FIGURE 1. I-n this position, the valve D is of course closed.Since the diluent has been placed in the chamber 31 by the manufacturerand the dry powder under vacuum as shown in FIGURE 1 is in thepassageway 22 below the valve D, t-he latter under these circumstanceswill not permit the diluent to enter the passageway 22. Merely byturning the barrel C to the position shown in dot and dash lines inFIGURE 2, the valve D will be placed in position so that upon pullingout of the barrel C, the valve D will be moved slightly along theextension 36, which is permitted, since the extensions 52 and 55 areAnot then in alignment, and this will uncover the passageway 33 of theextension 36 to the ports 47. Withdrawal of the barrel C will thencreate further suction and pull all of the liquid into the chamber 22and admix with the medicament therein. The valve D is then closed byturning the barrel C for 45 in the barrel B or resistance of valve D inthe body B to lateral motion will close opening 33 on straight forwardmovement of plunger C and the needle is ready for injection into thesubject. As a part of this invention, a vent valve structure 80a isprovided, which is of the same structure las that set forth in myconcurrently filed application above mentioned, and merely permits'filtered air to enter the diluent chamber 31y as the plunger C isWithdrawn from 4the barrel B.

The inner barrel is opened at the top and provided kwith a manuallyremovable stopper 79.

On valve D the ports 47 always being open allow for equalization ofpressure on both inner and outer walls of D, in the event chamber 22 isloaded under vacuum. This thereby greatly reduces the possibility of thevacuum in chamber 22 causing leakage in storage due to tendency of valveD to be sucked from seal over passageway 33.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be madeto the form of invention herein shown and described, Without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a hypodermic syringe, the combination of an outer barrel having achamber therein provided at its lower end with a sealed hypodermicneedle and opened at its upper end, a plunger type barrel having achamber therein with a discharge opening at its extreme bottom andslidably disposed axially within the chamber of the outer barrel, a cupshaped' rubber like valve head mounted n the lower end of the plungertype barrel having a slidable but non-rotatable piston t within thechamber of the outer barrel, said piston head having lateral port meanstherein and anv imperforate bottom wall, and means on the lower endofthe plunger type barrel and disposed within the rubber type valve headadapted to stretch the imperforate lower wall of the valve head over thedischarge opening of' said plunger type barrel whereby to close offcommunication of said chamber of the plunger type barrel with thechamber of the outer barrel, said last mentioned meansupon relativerotation of the plunger type barrel in the outer Vbarrel chamberbeingrendered ineffective to stretch said wall and thus permit opening of thedischarge opening 'of the plunger to the port means of Vsaid valve headwhen the plunger type barrel is then withdrawn slightly within the outerbarrel.

2. A hypodermic syringe structure as delined in claim l in which theupper portion of the plunger type barrel is providedV with vent means toits chamber.

3. In a hypodermic syringe, the combination of an outer barrel having acham-ber therein and provided with a normally sealed hypodermic needle,a plunger type barrel having a chamber therein slidably disposed axiallywithin the chamber of the outer barrel, said plunger barrel having alower discharge opening communicating with the chamber of the outerbarrel, a rubber-like cup shaped valve head having a movable slidingpiston t within the chamber of the outer barrel and being longitudinallyslidably mounted upon said plunger barrel at the lower end thereof oversaid lower discharge opening, said valve head having lateral port meanstherethrough, and means on the plunger barrel to control the opening andclosing of said lower discharge opening with respectto said port meansthrough rotation of the inner barrel within the outer barrel relative tosaid valve head.

4. Ina hypodermic syringe, the combination of an outer barrel having achamber therein and provided with a sealed hypodermic needle, a plungertype barrel having a chamber therein and a discharge opening at thelower end thereof and being slidably disposed for axial movement withinthe chamber of the outer barrel, a rubberlike cup shaped valve headmounted on the inner end of the plunger type barrel over said dischargeopening, said valve head having `a splined piston fit within the chamberof the outer barrel to render it non-rotatable within said chamber ofthe outer barrel, the rubber-like valve head mountedv on the lower endof said plunger barrel for relative longitudinal sliding movement withrespect thereto, said valve head having port means therein and meansprovided thereon normally closing olf the discharge opening of theplunger barrel until the plunger barrel is rotated within the chamber of`the outer barrel and relative to the piston head whereby upon awithdrawal movement `of the plunger barrel in the chamber of the outerbarrel the plunger barrel will be moved axially yrelative to the pistonvalve to open the discharge opening to said port means.

5. The hypodermic syringe as defined in claim 4 in which the lower endof the plunger barrel `and the inside of the valve head are providedwith extensions which are normally in end engagement and alignment tohold the discharge opening out of communication with the port means butwhich upon rotation of the plunger barrel relative t-o thevalve headwill be placed out of alignment to enable withdrawal movement of theplunger barrel to a slight degree with respect to the valve head toplace said discharge opening in communication with said port means.

6. A hypodermic syringe as describedin claim 4 in which the plungerlbarrel is provided with an external longitudinal extension thereon andin which the outer barrel is provided with van external lateralextension thereon which the longitudinalextensionwill engage to limittoo far inserting movement of the plunger barrel into the chamber of theouter barrel, said lateral extension of the outer barrel being of suchwidth that upon relative rotation of the plunger barrel within the outerbarrel for placing the valve head in position for slidable movement onthe inner end of the plunger valve said plunger` valve may then betelescoped within the charnber of the outer barrel without interferenceby engagement of the longitudinal extension with said lateral extensionof the outer barrel.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,343,085 Lerch June 8, 1920 1,890,347 VOSS Dec. 6, 1932 2,490,553 SmithDec. 6, 1949 2,607,343 Sarver Aug. 19, 1952 2,841,145 Epps July l, 19582,869,544 Ratcliff etal. Jan. 20, 1959

